Stratford vs. Jersey Village High School – 2.13.24

The Spartans were back out on the pitch at Jersey Village High School for their final game of the first round of District play. It didn’t take long for Stratford to control play and start combining for numerous dangerous opportunities. In the 6th minute, Layla Walker (Senior) won possession and slotted a ball through the Jersey Village back line that Sophia Beviaqua (Freshman) was able to run onto. The Jersey Village goalkeeper sprinted off her line to just deflect the ball, which landed at Lizzie Emerson’s (Senior) feet, but her attempt was also deflected by the keeper. It would only be two minutes later before Avery Rushing (Sophomore) crossed a ball from deep in Jersey Village territory to Beviaqua,  who won possession of the ball but was fouled from behind in the box. The Spartans sent Mary Charlotte Paul (Junior) to the penalty spot where she would bury the PK to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. In the 30th minute, Audrey Brendel (Freshman) passed a ball up the sideline to Allison Goodwin (Junior), who drove to the goalpost before making a great pass to an oncoming Ryann Weber (Junior), who casually beat a Jersey Village defender and sent a banger into the top left corner of the goal. Only two minutes later, Stratford earned a corner which was taken by Paul, then headed by Brendel to the feet of Allison Goodwin, who volleyed the ball to Paul, who found an unmarked Sara Benton (Sophomore), who hit a rocket from distance for another Stratford goal. With five minutes left to play in the half, Benton wound up another great shot on goal, but the keeper was up to the task, deflecting the shot. But an opportunistic Sydney Valentine (Sophomore) sprinted toward the goal, volleying the bouncing ball into the back of the net. On the ensuing kickoff, several Spartans combined before sending a ball through the back line to an advancing Valentine, who was able to just beat a diving keeper again to make it 5-0 Stratford at the half.

The second half would start with a flurry of opportunities for the Spartans. Ally Evetts (Senior) would be the first to fire on frame followed by Hannah Haygood (Junior), Beviaqua, Zoe Lawless (Freshman), and Juliana Molinas (Freshman). This barrage of shots by these Spartans were all on frame and well-hit chances, but credit should be given to the Jersey Village keeper who was spectacular all night. In the 53rd minute, Natalie Goodwin (Freshman) passed to Lawless, who sent a long ball down the far sideline where Paul would then connect with Weber, who was able to one-touch the pass into the net for another Stratford goal. Only a few minutes later, Molinas sent another dangerous shot in, but the keeper was able to deflect the attempt out for a corner. Paul would send the corner into the box and find Haygood, who would not miss her opportunity to add to the scoring frenzy. In the 65th minute, a crafty Brendel would switch the field on Jersey Village, which left Whitney Bui (Junior) in a great position to send a volley on goal. Once again, the Jersey Village keeper would make another diving save to deny the chance. Moments later, Paul slotted a ball through the back line of the defense and found the feet of Allison Goodwin, who finished with a well-placed shot into the goal. Allison Goodwin would return the favor to Paul in the 73rd minute when she sent a rainbow cross from the far sideline just over the goalkeeper’s hands to an unmarked Paul, who headed the ball into the back of the net. With only a few seconds left on the clock, Allison Goodwin made a great pass to Rushing right in front of the goal where she beat the keeper and earned the Spartans their 10th goal of the match. It was a dominant performance for the Spartans, who finished their first round of District games with seven wins and zero losses.

*Submitted by: Kyle Valentine

Stratford vs Cy Fair High School - 02.16.24

On Friday February 16, 2024, your Varsity Girls Soccer Team began the second round of District play at home against Cy Fair High School. The Spartans took round one against the Bobcats with a 5-0 victory, and looked to sweep the series and stay undefeated in District play. This game looked to be a bit tougher with two starters and a total of four Varsity players missing this match – but with that said, this is a talented team that doesn’t back down from a challenge. With the match underway, SHS controlled possession for the first 13 minutes and the ball didn’t cross midfield with any momentum until that point in the game. Stratford saw its first opportunity for a goal in the 15th minute, when Junior Ryann Weber worked up the right side and then came back with a left-footed shot to the far post that just sailed wide. The Spartans would have several more chances over the next 10 minutes, but would finally find success in the 34th minute, when the ball was sent from the midfield to Freshman Sophia Beviacqua, who had four Bobcats chasing her all the way to the goal - where she fired to the right side to put the green & white on the board, 1-0. Following this goal, the Spartan faithful didn’t have to wait much longer for another scoring opportunity. At the 37 minute mark, Beviacqua fired a shot from the left side that was cleared out of bounds, earning a corner kick for the Spartans. The kick was taken by Junior Mary Paul from the right side, and it was deflected away from the goal by the defense, but not far enough – as Freshman Audrey Brendel crashed down and put a great header on the ball that was kept out of the goal by a defender’s hand – earning SHS a penalty kick. Paul took the kick for the Spartans – and as she waited for the referee’s whistle, she sized up the goalie and fired far left side, where the keeper had no chance to defend the shot. This took the score to 2-0, and the game to halftime a short time later.

The Bobcats took possession to start the second half, and just a minute into play and off of a CFHS goal kick, the ball was quickly won by Weber and played up field to Sophomore Sydney Valentine. Valentine outran the defense to the goal and was pulled down as she was attempting a shot, and then earned the whistle from the referee and a penalty kick. Valentine lined up the kick, caught the goalie leaning left, and fired to the back right corner for an easy goal, increasing the lead to 3-0.

The Spartans would face the first bit of adversity in the 59th minute on a breakaway by the Bobcats. The Cy Fair player’s shot was blocked and unluckily ricocheted back into the Stratford goal, putting CFHS on the board, 3-1. This rare goal against the Spartans seemed to fire them up, and it wouldn’t be long before SHS would get a chance to respond. At the 67 minute mark, the ball was centered to Sophomore Sara Benton, who found space in the middle of the field --about 30 yards out from the goal--and wound up and fired an absolute banger from distance over the leaping goalie and under the crossbar for the fourth Spartan goal of the evening, 4-1. About two minutes later, Brendel would find Valentine on the left side working up the field. Valentine drew two defenders closer to her, waiting just long enough to thread the needle between the last two Bobcat opponents to hit Paul in stride up the middle. Paul had two defenders giving chase and just had to beat the goalie. She charged towards the left post and then at the last moment, made a great shot to the far-right side, just catching the other post and putting another in the net for SHS, 5-1.

At this point, even with the game well in hand – the Lady Spartans weren’t slowing down. They continued to control possession as the game approached conclusion. Then with 0:18 remaining on the clock, Sophomore Avery Rushing earned a corner kick from the right side. Paul would sprint over to set the kick up with the clock now reading 0:04 seconds remaining. Paul’s kick would carry to the far post where Senior Lizzie Emerson was waiting for her opportunity. Emerson would head the ball out of the air, just past the lone defender, to score with 0:01 remaining in the match and end the game, 6-1.

The Spartans are back at it again on Tuesday, February 20th at Cy Creek High School and then return home on Friday, February 23rd to face Northbrook High School. Be sure to come out on Friday and cheer the Lady Spartans on as they continue to defend their spotless District record.

*Submitted by Beau Ryan